Gynaecological presentation of retroperitoneal tumours

Objective To illustrate the problems associated with mistaken pre‐operative diagnosis following gynaecological presentation of patients with retroperitoneal tumours. Design A case series of five referrals. Results Non‐gynaecological tumours were not suspected in each case and hence there was a failure to undertake further pre‐operative investigation and referral to a specialised soft tissue sarcoma service. This resulted in four of the patients having an unnecessary laparotomy with an inappropriate transperitoneal biopsy undertaken when the retroperitoneal tumour was discovered. The mistaken diagnosis of ovarian malignancy lead to increased morbidity, compromise of potential for a long disease free interval and/or possibly lessened the chance of cure in each case. Conclusions Misinterpretation of clinical signs and an over‐reliance on ultrasound diagnosis were the commonest causes of inappropriate management of these patients. Gynaecologists should consider more frequently the other, less common differential diagnoses of a pelvic mass. This is especially true in circumstances with a predominantly solid tumour, where there are clinical signs of vascular or rectal displacement, or where there is ultrasound evidence of ureteric obstruction. The more frequent utilisation of a computerised tomography scan with intravenous and oral contrast with referral before inappropriate transperitoneal biopsy are recommended as complete en bloc surgical excision at the first laparotomy is the treatment of choice in virtually all primary retroperitoneal tumours.